Terjoloba in Georgia: dates, meaning and how to experience it

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 25 October 2026 · Editorial policy

What it is

Terjoloba is the annual town festival of Terjola, a municipal center in the Imereti region of western Georgia. The name follows a common Georgian pattern: the suffix “-oba” turns a place or saint’s name into the name of its feast day, exactly as “Tbilisi” becomes Tbilisoba and the monastery of Alaverdi becomes Alaverdoba. “Terjoloba” therefore means, plainly, “the day of Terjola” — a civic and agricultural celebration rather than a church feast, though it often opens with a service at a local church.

The festival is celebrated primarily by residents of Terjola and the surrounding villages of Terjola Municipality, joined by relatives who return from Kutaisi, Tbilisi and abroad for the occasion, and increasingly by visitors drawn to Imereti’s wine and food traditions. Unlike nationally fixed religious holidays, Terjoloba belongs to a wider Georgian custom of town and village days — local fairs timed to the agricultural calendar, usually held once the autumn grape harvest and the first pressing of young wine are complete.

Historical background

• Medieval period — The lands around Terjola lay within the Kingdom of Georgia and, after its fragmentation, within the western Georgian Kingdom of Imereti, centered on nearby Kutaisi.
• 12th century — Gelati Monastery, founded near Kutaisi by King David IV, became the intellectual and spiritual center of the region and remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site today.
• 1810 — The Kingdom of Imereti, of which the Terjola area formed a part, was annexed by the Russian Empire following the deposition of King Solomon II, ending western Georgia’s last independent Georgian monarchy.
• 19th century — Under Russian administration, Imereti’s economy remained centered on viticulture, maize and nut cultivation, the base of the dishes and wines still associated with Terjoloba.
• Soviet period — Terjola developed as the administrative center of a district (raion) within Imereti, and town or “district” days became an established Soviet civic custom, encouraging local pride through organized autumn fairs and concerts.
• 1979 — Tbilisoba was formally established in the capital as an autumn urban festival, giving later Georgian town days, including Terjoloba, a recognizable template of parades, music and food stalls.
• 2001 and 2008 — Georgian polyphonic singing, regularly performed at gatherings such as Terjoloba, was proclaimed a Masterpiece of Oral Heritage by UNESCO in 2001 and formally inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.
• 2013 — The traditional qvevri method of winemaking, practiced throughout Imereti and central to Terjoloba’s wine tastings, was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
• Today — Terjola Municipality organizes Terjoloba each autumn as a community festival of wine, food and music; exact dates are set and announced locally each year rather than fixed in advance.

Terjola’s documented history is inseparable from that of Imereti as a whole: a fertile, wine-producing kingdom that preserved its own royal line and ecclesiastical traditions for centuries after eastern Georgia came under different rulers, and whose cultural institutions, from Gelati’s academy to its distinctive grape varieties, still shape local identity. The region’s incorporation into the Russian Empire in the early nineteenth century did not erase these traditions; if anything, agricultural fairs and harvest celebrations persisted and were later absorbed into the Soviet calendar of town and collective-farm days.

Terjoloba itself is best understood not as an ancient feast with a continuous documented history, but as a living continuation of that older pattern — a modern town day that gathers Imereti’s wine culture, cuisine and polyphonic song into a single annual occasion, following the precedent set by larger city festivals such as Tbilisoba. Because it is organized locally rather than mandated nationally, its form has evolved year to year, and residents themselves are the best source on its current customs.

Meaning and traditions

At the center of Terjoloba is the Georgian supra, the long communal feast presided over by a tamada (toastmaster), who leads a sequence of toasts beginning with peace and ancestors and ending, often, with the host town itself. Visitors may hear the toast “gaumarjos” (roughly, “victory to” or “long life to”) raised to Terjola, to Imereti and to guests. Wine is poured from a doqi or drunk from a horn, and much of it has matured in a qvevri, the large clay vessel buried underground that remains the region’s defining winemaking tool.

Food stalls and household tables showcase Imeretian cuisine: Imeretian khachapuri (a round, closed bread filled with Imeretian cheese, distinct from the open Adjarian version), mchadi (cornbread), lobio (bean stew), kuchmachi (offal with pomegranate), and fresh Imeretian cheese and greens. Grape varieties native to the region, particularly Tsitska and Tsolikouri, appear both as finished wine and in the newly pressed must offered to guests. Music is central: polyphonic choirs, often all-male ensembles singing in the region’s characteristic harmonic style, perform in the town square alongside folk dance groups and, in recent years, contemporary bands.

Regional variation matters here: Imereti’s cuisine and wine style differ noticeably from Kakheti‘s amber wines in the east or Adjara‘s coastal dishes in the west, and Terjoloba is in part a showcase of that distinct western Georgian identity — lighter, semi-dry white wines, a milder use of spice, and khachapuri made without the egg-and-butter topping found on the Black Sea coast.

When it happens

Terjoloba does not fall on a fixed civil date. Like many Georgian town days, it is scheduled by the municipal administration each year, typically for a weekend in mid-November once the local grape harvest and initial pressing are complete. For 2026, organizers have indicated 14–15 November, though the dates are to be confirmed closer to the event. For 2027, a similar mid-November weekend can be expected, but travelers should treat any specific date as provisional until the municipality or local tourism bodies confirm it that autumn.

Terjoloba is not a national public holiday in Georgia; it does not appear on the country’s official list of non-working days, so offices, schools and transport nationwide operate normally. Within Terjola itself, local businesses, the municipal House of Culture and nearby wineries typically adjust their schedules around the festival, and some shops close for the day of the main event.

Where to experience it

The festival centers on Terjola’s main square and the area around the municipal House of Culture, where stage performances, folk ensembles and craft stalls are concentrated through the afternoon and into the evening. Wine producers and family marani (wine cellars) in and around the town often open their doors for tastings, a practice worth confirming locally since access depends on individual households and small wineries rather than a fixed public itinerary. Visitors arriving from Kutaisi, about 30–40 minutes away by road, typically combine the festival with a stop at Gelati Monastery or Bagrati Cathedral on the same day.

Those attending a church service as part of the day should dress modestly — covered shoulders and knees, and a headscarf for women entering the sanctuary — and ask before photographing inside. If invited into a private home or cellar for a tasting, it is customary to accept the host’s first toast and to avoid refusing food outright, though moderation is understood and respected.

Did you know

• The “-oba” ending in Terjoloba is the same grammatical pattern that gives Georgia’s capital festival its name, Tbilisoba, and the Alaverdi Monastery feast its name, Alaverdoba.
• Imereti’s Tsitska and Tsolikouri grapes, both featured at Terjoloba, are traditionally used to make light, often semi-sparkling white wines distinct from the amber wines of Kakheti.
• The qvevri winemaking method practiced across Imereti was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013.
• Georgian polyphonic singing, commonly heard at town festivals such as Terjoloba, was proclaimed a UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral Heritage in 2001 before formal inscription in 2008.
• Terjola lies in territory that belonged to the independent Kingdom of Imereti until its annexation by the Russian Empire in 1810, centuries after eastern Georgia had already come under separate rule.

Practical tips for visitors

The nearest airport is Kutaisi International Airport, roughly 30–40 minutes by car from Terjola; Tbilisi is a three-and-a-half to four-hour drive east. Mid-November weather in Imereti is cool and often damp, so warm layers and waterproof footwear are advisable for an outdoor festival day. Accommodation in Terjola itself is limited, so most visitors base themselves in Kutaisi and travel to Terjola for the day. Because exact festival dates are confirmed only shortly before the event, it is worth checking with the municipal administration or a local operator in the weeks beforehand. GTour arranges a private driver or guide for the day for visitors who prefer not to navigate rural roads and uncertain scheduling independently.

Combine it with

Terjoloba sits naturally within a broader visit to Imereti, whose caves, monasteries and wine cellars extend well beyond Terjola itself. Travelers continuing east often pair it with Georgia’s main wine region, Kakheti, for comparison of winemaking styles, or head north into the mountains of Racha, known for its own distinct semi-sweet wines and alpine scenery.

Questions travellers ask

Is Terjoloba a religious holiday?

No. It is a civic and agricultural town festival rather than a fixed church feast, though many residents attend a church service as part of the day’s events.

Do I need tickets to attend?

Terjoloba is a free, open public festival held in the town square and surrounding streets; no ticket is required to watch performances or visit food and wine stalls.

Is the date definite for 2026?

The 14–15 November 2026 window is the organizers’ indicated plan but is described as provisional; confirming with the municipality or a local operator close to the date is recommended.

Can I visit wineries in Terjola without an invitation?

Some family wineries open informally during the festival, but access is not guaranteed or centrally organized, so arranging a visit through a local contact or guide in advance is more reliable.

What should I wear to a supra or church service during the festival?

Modest, weather-appropriate clothing is appropriate throughout; for church visits, covered shoulders and knees are expected, and women are generally asked to cover their heads inside the sanctuary.

Is Terjoloba suitable for children?

Yes, the daytime program of music, dance and food stalls is family-friendly; the supra-style toasting and wine tasting in the evening is primarily an adult activity.

How does Terjoloba differ from Tbilisoba?

Both follow the same “-oba” town-day tradition, but Tbilisoba is a large, nationally promoted capital-city event with a fixed autumn date, while Terjoloba is a smaller, locally organized festival whose date varies and is confirmed closer to the event.

What is the best way to get from Tbilisi to Terjola for the day?

Terjola is roughly a three-and-a-half to four-hour drive from Tbilisi via the main highway toward Kutaisi; given the distance and provisional scheduling, an overnight stay in Kutaisi or a pre-arranged private driver is more practical than a single-day round trip.

Sources

• Georgian National Tourism Administration
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage – Qvevri wine-making method
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage – Georgian polyphonic singing
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Gelati Monastery
• National Wine Agency of Georgia
• Terjoloba
• Terjoloba Festival Celebrated in Imereti
• Terjola Municipality Official Events Page
• Imereti Region Tourism Information
• Terjola Local Self-Government Information